Education
- University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, J.D.
- University of Alabama, B.A. in International Relations and Affairs
Bar Admissions
- Tennessee
- U.S. District Courts for Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of Tennessee
Clerkships
- Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Rhynette Northcross Hurd, Division V of the 30th Judicial District Circuit Court of Tennessee
- Judicial Intern for the Honorable Bernice B. Donald, Sixth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals
Kara Bidstrup offers a client-centered work ethic with a unique perspective. Having served as a judicial law clerk then practicing with civil litigation firms in Tennessee, Kara has accumulated quite the experience for her years of practice. She has defended clients against complex healthcare liability claims and premises liability claims through bench trials, jury trials, mediations, and appeals. For her, practicing law has always been about analyzing problems and prevailing for the client, because the client is most important. Whether it's work for the firm or pro bono work, Kara is a dedicated and compassionate lawyer who pushes herself in order to provide the best quality service. To Kara, reputation matters, and that means long hours of strategic collaboration with her coworkers and upholding a standard of excellence that can make her clients proud. With Kara, clients can expect thorough solutions obtained by work that is above and beyond.
Important Litigation
- Secured unanimous defense verdict in a Tennessee healthcare liability case involving claims of medical battery by a brain damaged adult seeking more than $1,000,000 in damages.
- Represented an S&P 500 company against a premises liability case from onset of litigation to appeal
- Secured dismissal of an amended complaint based upon interpretation of the Tennessee Health Care Liability Act, which was affirmed by the Tennessee Court of Appeals and upheld by the Trial Court.
- Coordinated the defense of multiple healthcare liability cases, including responsibility for legal research, pre-trial motion practice, juror analysis, juror selection, preparation of direct and cross-examination outlines as well as presentations for opening and closing statement, and appellate briefing when necessary.
Organizations
- American Bar Association
- Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women
Law School Honors & Awards
- Best Appellate Brief, University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphrey School of Law’s Advanced Moot Court Competition
- Articles Editor for the University of Memphis Law Review
- Student Justice on the University of Memphis Honor Council
- Executive Volunteer Coordinator for the Public Action Law Society
Publications
- A Glimpse Inside the Brain’s Black Box: Understanding the Role of Neuroscience in Criminal Sentencing Fordham Law Review (Contributor), 2016
Practice Areas
- Asbestos
- Mass Tort Fraud
- Appellate
- Product Liability
- Premises Liability
- Workers’ Compensation
- Business Transactions
- General Liability
- Intellectual Property
- Medical Malpractice
- Professional Malpractice and Ethics